South Africa’s motor industry has lost one of its best known leaders. Combined Motor Holdings (CMH) announced that its group chief executive died on Monday, 2 November 2026. He was 80 years old.
For many people in the trade, jebb mcintosh and CMH were almost the same thing. He helped start the company in 1976 and stayed at its centre for close to fifty years.
What we know about the passing
CMH confirmed the news in a statement to the market. The company is listed on the JSE, so major leadership news has to be shared quickly and openly.
The board and executive team sent condolences to his wife, Liz, and to the wider family. The company also said his knowledge of the industry and his guidance would be badly missed.
Chairman James Dixon called him a business icon. He said his sharp business sense and attention to detail left a lasting legacy. Dixon also shared a telling detail. McIntosh was still directing the work of the group right up to the day he died.
That fits what people in the industry have long said about him. He was not a figurehead. He stayed hands on.
A career that began in 1976
The story of jebb mcintosh cmh goes back to 1976. That year he founded the group with Maldwyn Zimmerman, and he has been on the board ever since.
Few executives anywhere stay that long. Business Day reported in 2025 that he was set to mark 50 years at the top. That made him the longest serving chief executive among JSE listed companies.
It is easy to look at a long career and miss what it means. Companies change, markets turn and brands come and go. Staying relevant for nearly five decades takes real skill.
How big CMH has become
What began in the 1970s is now a national business. CMH runs 102 motor dealerships and 51 car rental locations across South Africa. That is roughly 150 sites in total.
The group does more than sell cars. It also earns income from several related services:
- Insurance underwriting
- Vehicle warranties
- Credit life products
- Vehicle finance partnerships
Its car rental arm, First Car Rental, is a well known name for many South African travellers. Together, these businesses give the group several ways to earn money, not just one.
His final report to shareholders
McIntosh’s last annual letter shows a leader who was still watching the market closely. In his report earlier this year, he pointed to the group’s move towards fast growing Chinese and Indian vehicle brands. These include Suzuki, Foton, Mahindra and Haval.
He also noted how much the market has shifted. Vehicles sourced from India and China now make up about 55% of all units sold locally. For anyone who buys or follows cars, that is a big change.
He did not only cheer the trend on. He warned that the growth had come at the cost of local manufacturers. That mix of optimism and caution was typical of how he spoke about the trade.
A figure the industry honoured
McIntosh was also respected outside his own boardroom. He served on various national dealer bodies over the years. The National Automobile Dealers’ Association (NADA) gave him its Lifetime Achievement Award.
At that event, a NADA leader described him as someone who mixed financial skill with a strong drive to sell. He was also called a hard driven motorman with a gutsy approach to challenges.
Dealers often say that success in this trade comes down to simple things done well. You watch your costs, you look after customers, and you keep a close eye on interest rates. McIntosh said as much in 2008, when he explained why CMH shut five small retail operations. Smaller sites were hard to run in that climate.
What happens at CMH now
The big question for investors and staff is who leads next. Business Day reported that the company faces an unexpected leadership transition. CMH has not made a full public handover announcement in the sources available at the time of writing.
There were signs of change before his death. In June 2025, CMH announced its biggest executive changes in decades. McIntosh was set to wind down his long stay at the top. Executive Charles Webber also replaced him on the group’s social, ethics and transformation committee.
Back then, the company did not say exactly when the handover would happen. Now events have moved faster than planned.
The company’s share ownership also matters. Earlier reports showed McIntosh held a large stake, held indirectly. A report in August 2026 put his holding at about 22.16 million shares. Investors will be watching for any update on what this means for the group’s control. For now, there is nothing confirmed to report on that point.
Why this matters to ordinary South Africans
You may not follow company news every day. Still, CMH touches many lives. Millions of people buy cars, rent vehicles or use finance and insurance products. Thousands more work in dealerships, workshops and rental branches.
A change at the top of a group this size can affect all of them over time. It might not be quick. But good succession planning helps keep jobs, service and prices steady.
Readers who want to follow the company’s formal announcements can do so in a simple way. Listed companies share price sensitive news through the JSE’s SENS service. The group also posts updates on its own site at cmh.co.za.
Remembering the man behind the name
People searching for jebb d mcintosh or jebb d. mcintosh are usually looking for news about the CMH chief executive, and this article covers the confirmed facts so far.
The facts paint a clear picture. He built a company from the 1970s onward and led it for nearly fifty years. He saw it grow into a national name and kept working until his final day.
In a business where leaders often move on after a few years, that is rare. It is easy to forget how unusual such loyalty has become. Few executives stay with one company for half a century.
His family, colleagues and the wider motor trade now face a loss. His influence will be felt for a long time. Dealers, rental staff and shareholders all worked within the framework he helped create.
The bottom line
Jebb McIntosh has died at 80, after close to five decades at the helm of CMH. The company has confirmed his passing and paid tribute to his leadership. The board now has the task of guiding the group through an unexpected change.
For readers, the key points are simple. A founder has passed away. A major JSE listed motor group needs new leadership. And the industry has lost a figure who shaped it for generations.
Further details on the succession plan should follow through official company announcements.
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